The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced the launch of a comprehensive public affairs campaign advocating for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modernize local television and radio ownership regulations. The current rules, which were written before the advent of mobile phones and the internet, stifle any ability for broadcasters to compete with Big Tech.
“This campaign underscores the urgent need to modernize outdated FCC ownership regulations that put the future of local TV and radio stations at risk,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “In today’s media environment, local broadcasters must have the ability to grow and compete with Big Tech platforms that operate without similar restrictions. As trusted sources of news and information, particularly during emergencies, local stations provide a vital service to their communities.
Policymakers must act now to ensure broadcasters can continue serving the public effectively, before it’s too late.”NAB’s campaign will launch with national advertising directed at policymakers in Washington, D.C., viewer and listener education, and resources that enable consumer outreach to lawmakers and key stakeholders, including the White House and Federal Communications Commission. Next week, more than 500 broadcasters will be in the nation’s capital to advocate for ownership reform and other priorities facing local stations during NAB’s State Leadership Conference.
The FCC’s existing media ownership regulations were established decades ago, at a time when broadcasters primarily competed with one another. These outdated rules limit the growth of television and radio stations in local markets and create barriers that hinder broadcasters’ ability to compete and serve their communities. Today, broadcasters face intense competition from Big Tech platforms and streaming services like YouTube, Amazon and Spotify, that operate without similar oversight.
Local television broadcast groups are restricted in reach by FCC regulation to under 39% of TV households nationwide, and are limited in the number of major network-affiliated stations they can own in a single local market. Broadcast radio owners can only offer a handful of stations to listeners in each market. Meanwhile, Big Tech platforms, pay-TV and streaming services face no such restrictions on audience reach.
While broadcasters are eager to compete and further invest in trusted local journalism and critical emergency coverage, outdated ownership rules hold them back. Modernizing these regulations would give local stations the flexibility to grow, innovate and better serve their communities keeping the content Americans love – like local news and sports on free, local channels.
NAB’s campaign comes as the FCC reviews its media ownership rules under Chairman Brendan Carr, who has previously called this a “break glass moment for America’s broadcasters,” and emphasized the need to “make it easier for broadcasters to attract the capital necessary for them to invest, compete and serve their local communities.”